Liberty Oil Convenience Pty Ltd v Golden Roo Company Ltd [2024] FCA 757

Federal Court of Australia

Liberty Oil Convenience Pty Ltd v Golden Roo Company Ltd [2024] FCA 757 File number(s): NSD 1582 of 2023 NSD 133 of 2024

Judgment of: WIGNEY J

Date of judgment: 15 July 2024

Catchwords: COSTS – Statutory demand – where defendants ultimately did not oppose the making of orders setting aside statutory demands – relevant principles regarding order for costs where there has been no hearing on the merits – where the defendants effectively surrendered or capitulated – where the plaintiff would have likely succeeded at hearing – where the defendants acted unreasonably in its continued opposition to setting aside the statutory demands – costs awarded in favour of the plaintiff

Legislation: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 459E, 459G, 459H, 459S Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 43

Cases cited: CGI Information Systems and Management Consultants Pty Ltd v APRA Consulting Pty Ltd (2003) 47 ACSR 100 Createc Pty Ltd v Design Signs Pty Ltd (2009) 71 ACSR 602 Eyota Pty Ltd v Hanave Pty Ltd (1994) 12 ACSR 785 Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 534; [1990] HCA 59 Lifese Pty Limited v Lee Crane Hire Pty Limited [2012] FCA 302 Nichols v NFS Agribusiness Pty Ltd (2018) 97 NSWLR 681; [2018] NSWCA 84 ONE.TEL Ltd v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (2000) 101 FCR 548; [2000] FCA 270 Panel Tech Industries v Australian Skyreach (No 2) [2003] NSWSC 896 Polaroid Australia Pty Ltd v Minicomp Pty Ltd (1998) 16 ACLC 52 Re Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs; Ex parte Lai Qin (1997) 186 CLR 622; [1997] HCA 6 LFDB v SM (No 2) [2017] FCAFC 207 Souden Lane Pty Ltd v Glen Bradshaw trading as Pacific Coast Digital [2007] NSWSC 772 Spencer Constructions Pty Ltd v G & M Auldridge Pty Ltd (1997) 76 FCR 452